[The Forty-Five Guardsmen by Alexandre Dumas]@TWC D-Link bookThe Forty-Five Guardsmen CHAPTER XI 6/7
Now, who were those men? What were the cards? Reply, gentlemen of Paris, who promised to learn everything concerning your city." Thus Mayneville, from the accused, became the accuser, which is the great art of an orator. "Cards and exceptional admissions!" cried Nicholas Poulain, "what can that mean ?" "If you do not know, who live here, how should I know, who live in Lorraine ?" "How did these people come ?" "Some on foot, some on horseback; some alone, and some with lackeys." "Were they soldiers ?" "There were but two swords among the six; I think they were Gascons. This concerns you, M.Poulain, to find out.
But to return to the League. Salcede, who had betrayed us, and would have done so again, not only did not speak, but retracted on the scaffold--thanks to the duchess, who, in the suite of one of these card-bearers, had the courage to penetrate the crowd even to the place of execution, and made herself known to Salcede, at the risk of being pointed out.
At this sight Salcede stopped his confession, and an instant after, the executioner stopped his repentance.
Thus, gentlemen, you have nothing to fear as to our enterprise in Flanders; this secret is buried in the tomb." It was this last speech which had so pleased all the conspirators.
Their joy seemed to annoy Briquet; he slipped down from his place, and returning to the court, said to the porter, "Parma and Lorraine." The gate was opened, and he left. History tells us what passed afterward.
<<Back Index Next>> D-Link book Top TWC mobile books
|